General Motors’ 2013 Cadillac XTS generated a lot of buzz during its debut at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, and continues to draw interest from both enthusiast and consumer press. But more than a few members of the press wondered if the Cadillac XTS is the brand’s real flagship, quickly noting that the sedan is smaller than the full-sized Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class, and Lexus LS. Was Cadillac following Honda’s lead with its Acura RL flagship, also considered a mid-sized sedan?
Well, GM is making the XTS status murkier. In an interview with Ward’s Auto, the automaker announced it is considering a vehicle larger than the Cadillac XTS. “Do I want something larger than XTS?” replied Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “Hope so. We’re exploring something more substantial, larger and grander.” Butler’s response echoed a comment by Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, last year about a larger Cadillac. “Do we need something that is a statement on a sedan basis for Cadillac that competes with some of the biggest and most-expensive cars?” said Reuss. “Yeah, we probably do in the long run. And so we’re looking at that.”
Automotive.com’s take: Count us among the doubters. Rumors have floated around about a full-size rear-wheel drive luxury flagship from Cadillac for years now. The XTS is nice and all, but it doesn’t have the size to go head to head against the big boys. We can’t see GM, which has taken great pains to measure its Caddies against BMW vehicles, making such a mistake. We won’t be surprised if GM announces a true, full-size concept by the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, if not earlier.
Source: Ward’s Auto
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